Latch



(NoMddeh) G GLQEKLER.

LATCH.

No. 444,826. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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CHARLES A. GLOEKLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,826, dated January20, 1891.

Application filed June 13, 1890- Serial No. 855,376. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. GLOEKLER, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in a Combined Door Fastener and Opener, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention consists in certain improvements in construction uponthat class of combined door fasteners and openers wherein is employed anincline or cam-bar fixed to the door-jamb and a rotary lever mounted onthe door which rides on the outer face of the cambar to force the dooropen and on the inner face of the cam-bar to tightly shut the door.

The present improvements consist in the means for mounting the rotarylever and the shapes of the coacting faces of the lever and cam-bar, theobject of the improvements being to increase the efficiency andfacilitate the operation of the fastener and opener.

The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a perspective View of the fast ener and opener, showing howit is used to force a door open. Fig.2 is a similar view of the same,showing how it is used to tightly shut the door. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview showing the means for mounting the rotary lever, and Fig. at is asectional view showing the shape of the cam-bar in cross-section and ofthe coacting end of the rotary lever in longitudinal section.

A is the door, and B the door-jamb.

C is the cam-bar, which is shown secured to the jamb,a-nd D is therotary lever, which is shown mounted on the door. The lever might bemounted on the j amb, with the cambar on the door; but the arrangementshown is more desirable, since the crank-handle E with which the leveris provided also serves as a handle for swinging the door.

The cam-bar C is formed with two cars a a, by means of which it issecured to the jamb, a post I), integral with the upper ear, extendingperpendicularly from the jaml), and the inclined bar 0, which connectsthe post I) and the other car and is integral with both. The cam-bar isthus composed of a single piece of metal and may be conveniently cast inthe proper shape. The operative portion of the cam-bar is inclined, andit is located at a distance from the surface of the door-jamb, so that aspace is left between the bar and doorjamb for the passage of the end ofthe lever D. The cam-bar extends longitudinally of and parallel with themeeting edges of the door and door-jamb. Neither the upper nor the lowerface of the cam-bar is flat, but both are beveled or curved along thelongitudinal edge of the cam-bar which is next to the meeting edges ofthe door and door-jamh. Preferably the cam-bar is substantially elliptical in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4.. The rotary lever has oneend d which co-operates with the cam-bar, and on its other end itcarries the cranlchandle E. The lever is fulcrumed to swing in a planeparallel with the surface of the door, and the fulcrum is nearer thehandle end of the lever than it is the end of the lever whichco-operates with the cambar. As a result of this construction the levercan be rotated through an entire circle, the crank-handle not coming incontact with the cam-bar when swung past the same.

F is a cast-metal plate or disk, which is fastened to the door by screwsc c. It is formed with a central projecting circular flange f, which inturn is formed with a central circular proj ecting boss g. The lever Dis formed with an eye which permits the lever to be slipped over theboss g and to seat against the flangef. The lever is held in place by aretaining screw-bolt G, which screws into the boss g, a washer It beinginterposed between the head of the bolt and the outer surface of thelever. The entire strain of the lever when revolved is by thisconstruction borne by the boss g and is taken from the screwbolt G.

The working end 61 of the lever which cooperates with the cam-bar isbeveled on both its upper and its lower side, as shown in Fig. 4, sothat when the lever is turned its Working end will pass either beneathor above the cam-bar with the least possible friction. The beveled shapeof the working end of the lever, in connection with the elliptical formof the cam-bar in cross-section, always insures the proper action of thelever and assists in the wedging action between the lever and thecam-bar which effects the closing and opening of the door. This improvedlever and cam-bar, while efficient in action and durable, areinexpensive in manufacture, all the parts being conveniently made ofmalleable iron or brass The improved door fastener and opener isparticularly efficient in the case of refrigerator-doors, where it isessential that the door should shut close and air-tight, and which inconsequence is more difficult to open and close than other doors.

I claim as my invention 1. The improved door fastener and opener, whichconsists of a cam-bar C and a rotary lever in combination therewith, oneof said parts being carried by the door-jamb and the other by the door,said cam-bar extending longitudinally of and parallel with the meetingedges of said door and door-jamb, said cam-bar extending at an inclineand so that a space is left between its under side and the beveled onboth its upper and lower surfaces, substantially as set forth.

2. The improved door fastener and opener, which consists of a cam-barand a rotary lever co-operat-ing therewith, one of said parts beingcarried by the door-jamb and the other by the door, the working end ofsaid lever passing either above or below said cam-bar, depending uponthe direction in which said lever is turned, in combination With a fixedbearing plate or disk F for said lever, said plate having a centralprojecting circular flange f and a central circular boss 9 projectingfrom said flange, said lever having an eye fitting over said boss,whereby said lever seats against said flange, a retaining screw-bolt G,which screws into said boss, and a disk or washer h, interposed betweenthe head of said bolt and the outer face of said lever,subst-antially asset forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing" witnesses.

CIIARLES A. GLOEKLER. Witnesses:

O. ODONNELL, GEO. W. RICHARDS.

